Question for GN7

[WESTERNAERO]

I've started drawning up the new strut. What do you think? Have anybody ever used the engine mount as the gusset/brace before, is this wise to do? Opinions are welcome, it's much easier to change the CAD drawing now. Thanks.

[gn7]

I've started drawning up the new strut. What do you think? Have anybody ever used the engine mount as the gusset/brace before, is this wise to do? Opinions are welcome, it's much easier to change the CAD drawing now. Thanks.

There are guy that do it and swear by it. Greer Rush swore about it. TGN 24 boat had it for one race, and at the next it was gone.
I'm kind of neutral about myself.

[78Southwind]

Very Nice...

[WESTERNAERO]

I wonder if maybe it would be TOO rigid, or maybe being tied together like that you might get some really bad harmonics every where. Hmmmm?

[gn7]

It can never be too rigid, and I am not all that sure that vibrations and harmonics is such concern. The stringers deal with it. But I know the engine moves a lot more tan many people think, and the question becomes, is the engine holding the strut, or is the strut bracing the engine?

[WESTERNAERO]

With the engine tied to the stringer rails and the strut brace tied to the stringer rails, would the movement of the engine be transferred to the strut the same as if they were rigged like the CAD drawings?

[gn7]

With the engine tied to the stringer rails and the strut brace tied to the stringer rails, would the movement of the engine be transferred to the strut the same as if they were rigged like the CAD drawings?

I can only say that I have seen drag and some river flats with the strut tied to the block, but usually the stringers. Not sure I have ever seen a circle flat with the strut tied to anything. But I KNOW I the few GNs that tried it, were only that way for a couple races. Every V bottom I know of has a either a large strut box like mine(its huge) bolted and glasses into the bottom, or just bolted, or just alum angles bolted to the bottom and the strut.
Is it because the bottom moves around more than a flat? Or because they deal with rougher water? I don't know. I only know that I haven't seen a hard running V bottom with the strut tied to the stringers or engine.
And I know my engine moves around more than I would have thought. If I am not mistaken, the SS80 and a couple others have struts tying the engine to the stringers, along with the motor plates. I have considered it, or using 1/2 plate and blocks on both sides of the plate.

[Mitch]

The bottom needs to move around tying it all together will promote stringer fatigue or lifting of the stringers . Constant pounding on the bottom will try to push the motor plate up taking everything with it . Use a drop thru with a block or a recessed bolt on .